Rhino Linings limit leaks
Corrosion of water and wastewater infrastructure, and in some cases the subsequent leakage, costs the industry in excess of $1B each year. The main assets that are impacted by corrosion are the pipelines, storage tanks and treatment plants. As much of this infrastructure is ageing, it is starting to require refurbishment or replacement. One method of refurbishment of water industry assets is to carry out surface repairs and then apply protective coatings. Rhino Linings, an American corporation based in San Diego, has been manufacturing a range of spray applied polymer coatings for more than 30 years. In early 2000, a local coatings company was acquired by the American company, to form Rhino Linings Australasia Pty Ltd and establish manufacturing and distribution in Australasia. Based on the Gold Coast, Rhino Linings Australasia is the only manufacturer of spray applied coatings in Australia. The company sources all its materials from local suppliers except for some very specialised chemicals which are imported from the parent company in America. Being a local manufacturer allows the company to be more responsive to customer requests. When refurbishing or repairing any pipes, channels or tanks that carry potable water, special coatings are required as it is essential that no chemicals leach into the drinking water. For pipelines, different coatings can be applied to the inside and outside of the pipes, especially if the pipes are buried in ground. For concrete storage reservoirs, water authorities are lining the insides to stop corrosion and prevent leaks. The structure of the polymer used for wastewater and sewerage treatment infrastructure, such as clarifier tanks and sewage channels, has to be resistant to abrasion and chemical attack. Special consideration has to be given when coating structures in sewerage treatment plants. One of the by-products of the sewage is hydrogen sulphide gas, which […]